Human rights

During her historic visit to Cambodia, Samantha Power, administrator for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), announced an additional $5 million in support for civil society, workers and independent media. ...

Despite the rapid digitalization of Cambodia’s economy and society, many online citizens continue to struggle with digital illiteracy – particularly vulnerable groups exposed to online discrimination and fraud. As digitalization efforts increase, experts are urging the government to implement laws that protect social media users and ...

A recent recommendation from the Ministry of Information urging provincial departments to monitor and control public sentiment, particularly on social media, has raised concerns about whether the primary intent is to maintain stability or stifle local opinions. ...

Senior government official Sun Chanthol highlighted the potential of the recent groundbreaking of the $1.7 billion Funan Techo Canal project to U.S investors that can benefit Cambodia’s economy. He also said freedom of expression in the country has improved, contrary to the views of civil society ...

The arrest of Cambodian journalist Mech Dara in late September has raised concerns about press freedom, but the Ministry of Information has defended the move, stating that the charges against him are legal and unrelated to his journalism. ...

The Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva on Tuesday criticised the request from human rights experts at the UN to suspend the Cambodian Press Charter, claiming it was made with insufficient evidence. ...

Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has expressed “deep regret” over what it described as the “unjust” decision by the US Department of the Treasury (USDT) to impose sanctions on business tycoon Ly Yong Phat and several enterprises in the country. ...

The Ministry of Information has set a short- and long-term strategic plan for the development of the information and audio-visual sector over the next five years to contribute to the government’s reform on the information and audio-visual sector. ...

The Ministry of Information has printed 20,000 copies of the Charter for Professional Journalism for free distribution to journalists as a means for strengthening ethics and encouraging responsible journalism. The distribution campaign began on August 23, 2024.​ ...

Prime Minister Hun Manet called for national unity and cautioned against divisions stemming from differing opinions regarding the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA), urging people to avoid illegal actions. ...

The Ministry of Justice issued a stern warning that efforts to incite opposition to the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) cooperation are part of a broader scheme to instigate a colour revolution aimed at overthrowing the government. ...

Government officials and armed forces condemned anti-Cambodia-Lao-Vietnam Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) activists and pledged to suppress any activities initiated by the “extremist opposition groups” based overseas who are “attempting to overthrow the government”. ...

Opposition to the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) project continues to grow abroad, with protests by Khmer citizens in South Korea and Australia on Sunday, August 11. ...

Cambodia’s first “Charter for Professional Journalism” is designed to elevate journalistic ethics and standards across all forms of media, including content creators and those involved in make-money-online (MMO) activities. ...

Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra emphasised the significance of the newly established “Charter for Professional Journalism”, highlighting its ongoing contribution to help review the draft of the amendment to the Press Law. ...

The Ministry of Information seemingly rushed the promulgation of the Charter for Professional Journalism on Tuesday, only days after the deadline for input by media associations with just a few suggestions included. ...

The Permanent Mission of Cambodia to the United Nations dismissed the comments made by UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan who urged the government “to review the charges” of the 10 Mother Nature environmental activists as it was “highly prejudicial” against the integrity of Cambodia’s ...

The National Audit Authority (NAA) will conduct an audit of the Center for Alliance of Labor Human Rights (CENTRAL) on July 15 following a request from the Interior Ministry on June 28. ...

On the eighth anniversary of Kem Ley’s murder in 2016, civil society groups and youth activists gathered at the Caltex petrol station near the Bokor traffic lights, where he was shot dead. ...

The Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL) clarified that its report, which highlighted restrictions on freedom of association, was aimed at improving workers’ conditions and ensuring respect for the rights of trade unions and leaders. ...

Journalists from Cambodia and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, as well as China, participated in the third Mekong journalism training workshop on the role of media in combatting disinformation and fake news in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) context. ...

Phnom Penh Municipal Court heard the case involving 10 environmental activists, including co-founder of Mother Nature Spanish national Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, who were charged for plotting to overthrow the government and insulting the King. ...

About 40 trade union representatives and members of the Cambodian Confederation of Trade Unions (CATU) gathered at Chea Chan’s trial at the Kampong Speu Provincial Court, with banners on Wednesday, demanding his release. ...

Senate President Hun Sen proposed drafting a law against people who claim that Cambodia did not experience a genocide and wanted to start a “color revolution”. A political analyst has said the law would further shrink citizens’ freedom of expression in relation to historical events. ...